Believing in Scott Smith

It couldn't have been coordinated better. Mayor Scott Smith got a significant boost from the latest study from the Mesa Chamber showing the current economic conditions of Mesa and how it compares to the rest of the Valley.

All of this information came out at once, with an accurate assessment of the economic base feeding into his campaign platform transforming Mesa from a bedroom community into a high wage job development center. This story helps boost his credibility when combined with his well-timed op-ed in the Republic on the same subject as part of their Mesa at a Crossroads series, and the Tribune editorial touting his emergence as a leader a week after they criticized his stance on residential north of Gateway.

After reading the stories and his own editorial, you come to find that there is a lot to believe in. He is right, Mesa does a great job educating its kids, but where do they go once they finish college? For the most part, their jobs aren't in Mesa. Heck, people driving in from Queen Creek aren't even working in Mesa - they are driving through to Phoenix, Tempe, or Scottsdale. When Google came knocking, people withing the region nearly laughed out loud at the notion of a progressive company like that coming to Mesa.

Hopefully, these are the types of things that can change. The results of the chamber study show that the large majority of jobs in Mesa are retail and the average job wages are lower. One of the commenters said it best:

"Mesa does not need another Food City, check cashing store or pawn shop."

The City needs to look at the sustainable economic opportunities that are going to drive our future, not another shopping center or call center. This is going to take a good look at the development of East Mesa, but it also requires a thoughtful plan for redevelopment in West Mesa as well. People aren't going to want to drive through a run-down part of town just to get to a good part. I don't know the last time you drove on Broadway, but that is certainly the case now.